Green Olive Press

The Green Olive Press was established in the UK in 2006. The Green Olive Press’s aim is to publish a small number of high quality titles related to English literature, food and words – and preferably a combination of all three – that represent the owner’s passion and interest. Why the ‘Green Olive Press’? The inspiration for the name was derived at a delightful dinner party in the company of good friends and fine wine. Olive trees are hardy, strong, and grow well despite neglect, poor conditions and harsh pruning. They are resilient and tenacious, and are native to the Mediterranean, Asia and parts of Africa. They have been introduced to countries as far apart as Australia, Japan and China. They have twisted, gnarled trunks; they have seen a lot and lived through a lot; they have wisdom and knowledge. The association of olive trees and literature spans decades. Olive and olive trees are mentioned frequently in literature – from Homer’s Odyssey through to Catherine Aziz in The Olive Readers (2005), and are also referred to in the Bible, Qu’ran and the Book of Mormon. Olive trees have histories. They are wise and mystical things. They conjure exotic images both of far away times and places, and modern day events. ‘Green Olive Press’ seemed an ideal choice. Caroline Webber, the director, has always had a passion for books and writing. She is a freelance editor (with experience in fiction, non-fiction, academic and government publications) and dabbles in writing. Caroline has a Masters degree in Renaissance and Romantic Literature and has a doctorate from the University of Liverpool (UK) for her research on eighteenth-century literature, in particular eighteenth-century editorial practices and the Gothic novelist, Ann Radcliffe. As part of her thesis, Caroline edited a critical edition of Gaston de Blondeville, one of Ann Radcliffe’s less well-known works.